Diathermy contact pad



Feb. 27, 1934. C F JE'NKWS 1,948,716

DIATHERMY CONTACT PAD Filed July 14, 1955 Patented Feb. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to diathermy contact pads; and has for its principal object an electric terminal pad which will snugly fit the contour of the contacted part, eliminating danger of sparking between contact pads and the flesh of the patient. (Two pads are usually used, one for each terminal lead.)

Heretofore it has been customary, in diathermy treatment, to employ a lead plate bent to ap proximate shape, filling the unavoidable noncontact spaces with soapy lather.

But the lather is dried up by the heat of the current passing therethrough and painful sparking between the plates and the flesh results.

So the treatment must be suspended, the plates removed, the parts re-lathered, and the plates strapped on again before the treatment can be continued.

The shaping of these lead plates over swollen arthritic knuckles is so very painful as to be practically impossible.

The contact pad herein described avoids these troubles, and incorporates advantages of its own.

The pad is made of small metallic plates, articulated to make a pliable bag structure. The bag is then filled with metallic fibers, making a soft resilient body which readily conforms to the contour of the surface to which it is applied.

The fibrous metallic filler of the bag brings every member of the articulated plates into the electrical circuit, for the individual fibres are preferably as long or longer than the bag itself, and entangle with adjacent fibres.

In treatment the bags are held in place preferably by elastic bands upon which a rectangular metal ring slides.

To this metal ring the wire lead from the diathermy machine is clipped, and as this ring can be slipped along the strap so that it rests on the 40 contact pad, it is obvious that the fibrous filling brings every plate of the pad into the electric Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is an elevation, or edge view, of the pad, which may be two or three times as wide as it is thick; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of four articulated metallic plates, of which the fabric of the bag is made, and showing how the plates are fastened together by a ring inclosing corner hooks of adjacent plates. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the pad on lines x-y of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is one of a pair of elastic straps, with hook and ring fastenings, for holding the pads in place in treatment, of the foot, 6.5 for example, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

In the figures A is the pad; the fabric of the bag composed of the metal plates B, with corner hooks, B engaging ring C, Fig. 2, to make a pliable fabric. D is a cross section of the fibres composing the filler. E is the elastic strap (with hook and ring ends) for holding the pads in place, during treatment. F is a metal ring, slidable on the strap, which in use rests on the contact pad, and to which leads G-G from the diathermy machine (not shown) are clipped.

With the soft pliable pads strapped in place, as in a foot treatment suggested in Fig. 5, the high-tension high-frequency current is turned on. The resistance of the tissue causes an internal heating of the foot, (tho the pads remain cool), producing the curative fever of this type of treatment.

Obviously modifications of the structure and application are possible without departing from the essential invention involved.

What I claim, is

A diathermy pad electrode comprising a cover made of pliable metallic material, and an intermingled fibrous metallic filling contained within said cover. 7

CHARLES FRANCIS JENKINS. 

